1. ROOTS OF HINDUISM AND BUDDHISM

2. BACKGROUND
Aryans and non-Aryans followed own forms of religion at the beginning
After blending – worship became more complex – questioned Brahmin priests
New ideas arose out of turmoil

3. Hinduism
No founder
Belief: religion is a liberation from illusions, disappointments and mistakes
Writings: Upanishads – explain the Vedic hymns; written as dialogue between student and teacher

4. Beliefs
A person can achieve moksha- which is a perfect understanding of all things; brings liberation from desires and suffering
They distinguish between:
atman: the individual soul of a living being
and
brahman: the world soul that contains and
unites all atmans
This interconnectedness of all life is a basic
concept

5. Attaining understanding between atman and Brahman brings moksha and a release from life in this world
But this understanding does not usually come in one lifetime – so they believe in reincarnation – when an individual soul or spirit is born again and again until moksha is achieved
Soul’s karma – good or bad deeds follows from one reincarnation to another and influences life circumstances (caste, health, wealth, etc.)

6. Brahman Seen as having personalities of 3 gods:
1) Brahma – the creator
2) Vishnu – the protector
3) Shiva – the destroyer
Changes over years – Hindus may follow deity they wish to worship or none at all
Hindus may choose from 3 different paths for achieving moksha:
1) right thinking
2) right action
3) religious devotion

7. Hinduism and Society Reincarnation strengthened the caste system
- only those in upper caste seen to have
good karma in former life
- a female, laborer, or untouchable – seen
to have had bad karma in former life
Only men in top 3 varnas could achieve moksha in their present life
Hinduism and the caste system dominated every aspect of a person’s life

8. Jainism Founded by Mahavira (599-527 B.C.) 5 million Jainists in India
Beliefs:
1) Everything in universe has a soul; should
not be harmed
2) Non-violence
3) Must work in non-violent jobs
4) Religious toleration; do not recruit
converts

9. Buddhism and Siddharta Gautama
Founder
Noble birth in Nepal
Relationship with father
- exhibited traits of a great man
- if he stayed home – would be world leader
- if he left – a religious leader
- father isolated him in palace; married; had a
son

10. Siddharta’s Quest At 29 he ventured outside palace 4x:
1) saw an old man
2) saw a sick man
3) saw a corpse (dead man)
4) a wandering holy man at peace
Meaning: only religious life offers refuge from suffering
Decided to devote life to seeking religious truth and to end suffering

11. Path to Enlightenment Wandered for 6 yrs.
Tried to reach enlightenment by debating, fasting but found no truth; continued to suffer
49 days of meditation under fig tree – found enlightenment or understanding of the cause of suffering
Became known as Buddha – the enlightened one

12. Four Noble Truths First sermon given to 5 companions
Sermon contained 4 Noble Truths:
1) All of life is suffering and sorrow
2) Cause of suffering: selfish desire for
temporary pleasures of the world
3) Way to end suffering: end all desires
4) To overcome desires and attain
enlightenment: follow the Eightfold Path
Eightfold Path: middle way between desires and self-denial
If you follow Eightfold Path – you reach nirvana – release from selfishness and pain

13. Eightfold Path Right views Right resolve Right speech Right conduct
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration

14. Differences between Buddhism and Hinduism
Buddhism contained many Hindu ideas
Final goals similar: perfect state of understanding
- moksha for Hindus
- nirvana for Buddhists
But there were sharp differences:
1) accepted idea of reincarnation
2) accepted cyclical, or repetitive, view of
history: world created and destroyed over
and over
3) rejected many gods of Hinduism
4) rejected privileges of brahmin priests
5) rejected caste system

15. Religious Community
Sahgha – Buddhist religious order of monks and nuns
First monks – 5 men who heard Buddha’s first sermon
Eventually refers to entire religious community

16. Three Jewels of Buddhism
1) Religious community
2) Dharma – Buddhist doctrine or law
3) Buddha

17. Buddhism and Society
Early believers included laborers and crafts-people > because it rejected caste system
More influence in northeast because Aryans had less influence there
Women reluctantly brought into religious orders – thought they might distract men
Monks and nuns took vows of poverty, non-violence, and chastity – spread Buddha’s teachings
Monasteries developed – Nalanda developed into a great university

18. Buddhism in India Buddhism spread over Asia after Buddha’s death
Never gained significant foothold in India
Theories on why it didn’t: Buddhism was absorbed into Hinduism when Buddha was recognized by Hindus as being one of the 10 incarnation of the Vishnu
India was always an important pilgrimage for Buddhists: stupas – sacred mounds contain Buddha’s relics
Pilgrims circle clockwise around object; lie face
down; leave flowers

19. Spread of Buddhism
Traders carried it to places like Burma, Thailand, and Sumatra
Silk Road carried it to China and from there Korea and Japan
Buddhism became most widespread religion in East Asia
Buddhism would divide into two sects: Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism